Epilogue:
As I write this, on the anniversary of the battle, I find it a bittersweet trip back to that wrenching day. To be sure, when we walked away from it, there were any number of casualties on our side. Sadly, most of them were more inexperienced and younger, though no one fought any harder than anyone else. The biggest surprise was neither inexperienced nor young. Alastor Moody, who I was unable to see in the mirrors as the battle raged, went down fighting. George Weasley, who saw him fall, said he took out five Death Eaters in the process and fought like the madman he was considered to be. Hestia Jones, sadly, fell to Bella's hand as she made her way across the field to her master. There were injuries as well. Percy Weasley is still scarred from the vicious slashes he received, while Dumbledore was so weakened by Voldemort's stun and the exertion of fighting that he has since retired from his post and moved back to Godric's Hollow, where he writes books and spends much of his time with Bathilda Bagshot and Elphias Doge. Hannah Abbot, though she lived, lost the use of her legs, but not before she blinded the Death Eater who cursed her. Mandy Brocklehurst, the student of mine who was dating Draco, still gets tremors from a powerful Cruciatus curse she was hit with. Yet all those who came away, did so gladly, proud of their accomplishments while mourning those who got left behind. There is now a beautiful monument on the grounds. Statues of each of the fallen ring the lake's edge, and thanks to Hagrid there are always fresh flowers.
Those of us who did move on from that day have come far. Severus and I welcomed our daughter, Lily Serenity, into the world nearly a month afterwards. He says she is lucky to have her mother's looks, but I have determined that rather than colic, she has gifted us with a personality very much like her father's. Yet I love them both and wouldn't trade them. Teddy Lupin was born a very few months ago now, and I am filled with no small sense of relief that their family is intact. Bill and Fleur, naturally, are still expecting Victoire later this year, and I did warn them it's a girl. Harry and Ginny are already engaged, as are Ron and Hermione, all of whom are planning a double wedding, which should be interesting to say the least. Severus surprised me the other day by asking what date they had set. My love has come a long way, and I fully admit to having a large part in it. My favorite success, however, is Draco who still keeps in touch. He suffered an enormous shock when his mother eloped with a newly healed Gilderoy Lockhart and moved to the south of France, but he is now employed as a liaison for Muggle Relations within the Ministry. He and Mandy are no longer together, but he is spending quite a lot of time with a Muggle cousin of hers.
Hogwarts is a strange place now, almost eery, especially when I walk on the grounds. Severus has said so as well, but there have been revolutionary changes to the place. Minerva stepped up as Headmistress, naming Filius Flitwick as Deputy Headmaster, and has done away completely with the house system. Instead, we separate according to grade levels now in an attempt to bring the children of all backgrounds and abilities together in cooperation. The mascot, though not a native to the area, is a Hungarian Horntail. As our first year there is no way I can say yet if it's working. Next year should have fewer bumps along the way. Neville did step up as Herbology professor, and Harry actually returned for a year to teach Defense while he trains for the Auror exam. Aurora's niece, Artemia, has taken Minerva's place in Transfiguration, and a new French witch has taken over the Potions department. Neither Horace nor Severus could be tempted out of retirement to return to the dungeons. Horace is back to his creature comforts, while Severus divides his time between researching new potions and penning a new textbook, complete with his own methods.
We have actually carved our niche here in Hogsmeade, since I am still employed as Muggle Studies professor and have a column that I write for the Prophet as a Muggle expert. Severus sold his family's old home, and had Harry, Remus, Arthur, and Dumbledore out to remodel our new one before we moved in. As of now it is neither shrieking, nor can it be considered a "shack" by any means. They did, at least, close up the passage through the basement. At this point though, we spend a good portion of our Christmas holidays with my family, where it's warmer, and cozy up at home most of the time otherwise. Although I do admit I am looking forward to a trip to Key Largo for two reasons. In the first, I can finally fit into a bathing suit again and second, I'm dying to see Severus in a Hawaiian shirt sipping pia colada from a coconut.
Given all this, I have no complaints. I'm glad things turned out as they have, and I do think everyone has come out the better for it. It is amazing how people, as these seeming threads spun and cast by the Fates can come together weaving through each other's lives, a veritable web tightly bonded by friendship, making a perfect tapestry, a beautiful masterpiece.